Customer Reviews

Arne: Alfred: An English Masque

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You all know "Rule Britannia" when you hear it and some of you probably know the words to the refrain, if not the verse. Those of you who do crosswords might even know that the composer was (Thomas) Arne. And now that Deutsche Harmonia Mundi has released a CD of <Alfred: an English Masque> (75605 51314 2), you know where that anthem comes from and (if you read the generous notes that come with the recording) a lot more about this wonderful relic. Originally written in 1740 for the Prince of Wales, it was later expanded from 8 numbers to the 24 on this recording. If you like Handel, you will like Arne. Which means you enjoy hearing how it can take nearly 6 minutes to sing 8 lines without boring the listener! The plot of "Alfred" is the usual nonsense with "lowly rustics" singing simple tunes and the "high born" singing complex ones. And the cast in this recording is just about perfect to deliver the Saxon goods: Jennifer Smith, Christine Brandes, David Daniels, and Jamie MacDougall. The Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra and Philharmonia Chorale are under the baton of Nicholas McGegan, and the whole enterprise is performed with spirit and style. So if counter-tenor Mr. Daniels is not quite as elegant as was the late Alfred Deller, he has perhaps more dash, which is what is needed in this Georgian salute to the Rulers of the Waves. A good job all around.

What a wonderful performance. The final ode ("Rule, Britannia!") had me on my feet cheering and crying. The soloists are uniformly fine. But, David Daniels as Prince Edward is simply a joy. His "Vengeance" aria is glorious. What an outstanding performer and vocal actor. Don't miss this one.

There is the effortless beauty of "Why beats my heart with such devotion" and the spectacular coloratura and drama in "Vengeance, O come inspire me!" Daniels adds to his growing list of distinguished recordings and to his reputation as one of the great singers in the world.

There is the effortless beauty and of "Why beats my heart with such devotion" and the spectacular coloratura and drama in "Vengeance, O come inspire me!" Daniels adds to his growing list of distinguished recordings and to his reputation as one of the great singers in the world.

OH C.B. AND D.D. YOUR SINGING IS GREAT, BUT IT HELPS THAT ARNE'S MUSIC IS REALLY FIRST-RATE! This recording is distinguished by an excellent rhythmic sense on the part of the soloists that ties in perfectly with the articulation and absolutely perfect diction that McGegan obviously demanded! David Daniels leads the pack with his 'model' of vocal clarity and neatness!


Thomas Arne's 'Alfred' is a play with music first performed in 1740 as part of a lavish entertainment for the Prince of Wales. About 5 years later he expanded the 8 vocal numbers into an English Opera which premiered at Drury Lane Theatre on March 20, 1745, and it is this latter that forms the basis for the present recording.

Thomas Arne(1710-1778) is best known for his charming settings of Shakespeare songs like 'Blow, blow, thou winter wind' and 'Where the bee sucks'. But he is also famous for a tune that epitomizes England and its herioc spirit 'Hail Britannia', which is the final piece from 'Alfred', a masque with libretto by David Mallet and James Thomas.

This CD reveals that this work has a lot more to offer than its closing chorus. The music ranges from such simple pastoral songs as 'If those who live in shepherd's Bower', to florid, operatic aria show-stoppers like 'Vengeance, O come Inspire me', the latter performed with thrilling vigor and accuracy by countertenor, David Daniels.

The plot concerns the Saxon king Alfred's resistance against the invading Danes during the 9th century. It is a mixture of pastorialism and patriotism. Thus the score is well-varied ranging from popular strophic airs for the shepherds Emma and Corin, to bravura da capo arias for the noble characters Alfred and his wife Eltruda. Handel comes to mind quite often, but so does John Gay and his Beggar's Opera. Regardless of the fluctuating style at any particular moment in this piece, we are continually amazed at the composer's skillful orchestration. The use of horns in arias so different as 'The shepherd's plain life' and 'Vengeance, O come inspire me', the plaintive flute in 'Sweet Valley, Say where', and the blaring Baroque trumpets in 'Rule, Britannia' are all strokes of genius.

Nicholas McGegan (conductor) brings this tuneful music together nicely and neatly; and the accompaniment by the Philharmonic Baroque Orchestra plus the Philarmonic Chorale is well-executed. The soloists are excellent; I particularly liked the voices of Christine Brandes (Mezzo) and David Daniels (countertenor). Brandes's voice was rich and resonant with a buoyant sound that mezzos sometimes fail to achieve. Daniels was superb with his very textured and vibrant sound and flawless diction.

All in all, a very entertaining disc. Of course, we have to give some of the credit to Thomas Arne! I continually marvel at his glorius and vibrant music.

What a hidden gem this recording is. This disc ends with a rousing version of "Rule Britannia" (called here by its official title "When Britain first at heav'n's command"), the unofficial British anthem and familiar to anyone who has watched a movie or TV show where the scene all of a sudden changes to a shot of Big Ben. The performance inspires with blazing trumpets, dramatic strings and proud chorus. But the real pleasures of this recording come well before with a wide variety of tones and moods. It certainly helps to have such a stellar cast performing superlatively - sopranos Jennifer Smith and Christine Brandes, tenor Jamie MacDougall, countertenor David Daniels and the San Francisco-based Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra and Chorale, all under the direction of conductor Nicholas McGegan.

With equal amounts of gusto and pastoral, the entire work sounds like it was composed by Handel but was in fact written by Thomas Arne, whose libretto is a fanciful, patriotic tale about King Alfred searching for his wife and son while fighting the Danes. If there is a standout in this distinguished cast, it is Daniels, who sings five solo arias as Alfred's son, Prince Edward. The touching "Why beats my heart with such devotion" is especially wonderful, though "Vengeance, O come inspire me" is a real soul-stirrer. Also excellent is the trio performance on "Let not those who love complain" with Smith, Daniels and MacDougall, especially as they match their coloraturas seamlessly. It will raise goose pimples, and so will "Rule Britannia" even if you are not an Anglophile. This disc is definitely worth seeking out.